Mahabharata 7.141.296 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 141, Shloka 296

Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana

Devanagari script

कर्णस्यासीन्महीपाल सव्यदक्षिणमस्यत: । भूपाल! दायें-बायें बाण चलाते हुए कर्णका मण्डलाकार धनुष अग्निचक्रके समान भयंकर प्रतीत होता था

Transliteration

karṇasyāsīn mahīpāla savyadakṣiṇam asyataḥ | bhūpāla! dāyeṃ-bāyeṃ bāṇa calāte hue karṇakā maṇḍalākāra dhanuṣ agnicakre ke samān bhayaṅkara pratīta hotā thā |

Translation

সঞ্জয় বললেন—হে মহারাজ! ডান-বাম উভয় হাতে বাণ নিক্ষেপ করতে করতে কর্ণের বৃত্তাকারে ঘূর্ণায়মান ধনুকটি প্রজ্বলিত অগ্নিচক্রের মতো ভয়ংকর প্রতীয়মান হচ্ছিল।

Word by Word

• कर्णस्य: of Karna
• कर्णस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular

• महीपाल: O king (protector of the earth)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपाल
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सव्यदक्षिणम्: left-and-right (in both directions)
• सव्यदक्षिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सव्यदक्षिण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अस्यतः: of (him) shooting/casting
• अस्यतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (अस्यत्)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra (addressed as mahīpāla/bhūpāla)
• Karna
• Bow (dhanuṣ)
• Arrows (bāṇa)
• Wheel of fire (agnicakra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the double-edged nature of extraordinary skill: prowess can inspire awe, yet in war it also magnifies harm. It invites reflection on how power and talent should be governed by dharma and restraint, not merely by rivalry or anger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes Karna’s rapid, ambidextrous archery. As he releases arrows to the left and right, the bow’s circular motion looks like a terrifying fiery wheel, emphasizing the intensity of the battle and Karna’s formidable presence.